Wire-stretcher.



J. S. RICHESON.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED run 15, 1914.

1,177,805; Pfitented Apr. 4,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

1. s. RICHESON.

WIRE STR-ETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIS, 1914.

1,177,805. Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

THB COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH ,CD WASHINGTON. .n. C. 1

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH S. RICHESON, 0F ALTO, VIRGINIA.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH S. RIoHEsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alto, in the county of Amherst and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVire-Stretchers, of Which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates'to wire stretchers, one of its objects being to simultaneously stretch a plurality of wire strands by manually operated means.

A further object is to construct the device in a simple manner so as to reduce the cost of manufacture to a minimum, at the same time, providing a durable structure which will effectually withstand the strain exerted thereon during the stretching of the wire.

A still further object resides in the provision of wire engaging members which are detachably engaged with the winding reel, permitting their expeditious replacement v should they be rendered inaptfor use.

Other objects as well as the nature, characteristic features and scope of my inven tion will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims forming a part of this specification.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevatioual view of a wire stretcher constructed in accordance with my invention, illustrating the application thereof, Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, Fig. 3 is a detailed enlarged perspective view of one of the wire connectors, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the operating lever by which the wire winding drums are actuated.

In the drawings wherein is illustrated the preferred embodiment of this invention, in order to illustrate the application thereof, a plurality of fence wires 5 are provided which are in engagement with a fence-post 6, it being understood that barbed wire or any other t pe may be equally well stretched if so desired.

A supporting structure 7 is provided which has its top 8 tapered toward one end, the top having an opening 9 formed therein which extends longitudinally thereof, a leg 10 depending from the smaller end of said top 8 and being inclined outwardly therefrom for en agement with the post 6, whereby the equilibrium of the device is main- Specification of Letters Patent. P t t A g 4, 191

Application filed May 15, 1914. Serial No. 838,802.

tained during the wire stretching operation.-

Mounted in the opening 9 of the top 8 is a reel or drum 11 which has extending from the opposite faces thereof at diametrically opposite points, operating shafts 12, the outer ends 13 of which are squared for engagement with an actuating element whereby the drum is rotated, while the portions of said shaft adjacent the drum are smooth for revoluble engagement in bearings 11, the latter being mounted on the top 8. a

Mounted on the outer periphery of the drum 11 at equidistant points are wire connectors 15, each of which in the present instance comprises a screwthreaded shank 16 for engagement in a complemental screwthreaded recess in the drum 11, having a' U-shaped frame integrally associated therewith, the arms 17 of which are resilient, one of the arms provided with a screw-threaded opening and the opposite arm provided with an opening alining with the screw-threaded opening, said openings adapted for engagement with a set-screw 18, the latter being engaged through said frame adjacent its vertex, so as to clamp the fence wires 8 therebetween, since when the set-screw 18 is threaded through the threaded opening in one of the arms and the head thereof abuts with the opposite arm, the arms will consequently be flexed together so as to clamp the wire.

A drum 19, similar in configuration to the drum 11 is revolubly mounted on the horizontally extending bars 20 which are arranged in the lower part of the structure 7 as advantageously illustrated in Fig. 1. The drum 19 has associated therewith a plurality of wire connectors 21 which are identical in configuration with the connectors 15 and are for precisely the same purpose, the drum 19 having squared shaft ends 22 extending therefrom which are likewise for engagement with an actuating member by which the drum 19 is rotated. By the provision of the upper drum 11, it is seen that the stretching of the upper strands of fencewires is facilitated, since said drum will be on an approximate line with said strands, as shown to advantage in Fig. 1, while the lower drum 19will be on an approximate line with the lower wire strands.

For rotating the drums 11 and 19, an ac tuating lever 23 is provided, one end of which is flattened and provided with a squared opening at corresponding to the squared shanks 13 and 22 of the drums 11 and '19, respectively, it being understood that if desired, one of the levers 23 may be associated with each side of the drum which is stretching the wire, so as to aiiord a maximum amount of power, should it be'found' necessary to do so in the stretching of the wire.

In operation, the fence-wires 5 are first engaged with the wire connectors 15 and 21 which is done by laying the wires between the arms 17 of the connector 15 and the similar arms on the connector 21, after which pressure is exerted on the set-screw 18, causing the arms to be relatively moved, so as to clamp the wires therebetween, since the arms of each of the connectors 15 and 21 are of a resilient nature, so as to permit of the flexing of their arms, it being likewise understood that the threaded shanks of the setscrews 18 are engaged with one of the arms of each of the connectors in screw-threaded relation and slidably engaged through the other, so as to clamp said arms when the heads of the set screws 18 are engaged'with the arms. Pressure is then exerted on the actuating lever 23, which we will assume has been engaged with one of the squared shanks of the shaft of the drum which is to be rotated and which will as is obvious, cause pressure to be exerted on the wire strands 5, the latter being then secured to the post 6 in any suitable manner. It is obvious that considerable strain will be exerted on the wire connectors 15 and 22 and in associated with their respective drums so Copies of'this patent may be obtainedifor fivecents each, by addressing the Commissioner, of *Batcnta.

as to permit of their expeditious removal,

should they: be rendered. inapt for use and replaced by new ones.

It willbe understood that the above d escriptionand accompanying drawings com- 7 prehend" only the geenral and preferred em- L bodiment of my invention and that various ving thusful'ly described my invention '7 7 what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: i

1". A wirestretcher including a frame hawing a portion of its top out out, legs depend ing from the top, cross bars parallIel wit-h the top connecting the legs, a. shaft j0ur-' naled across the opening in the top, a drum carried by the shaft, a second shaft. sup-. ported by the cross bars, a drum carried by said shaft, means for securing the fence strands to the drums, and means for operat-' ing the shafts. V

2. A wire stretcher includ ng a support,

drums carried by the support, wire. retain- V 7 ing clamps detachably secured and arranged equidistantly on said drums, said clamps comprising U.-shaped members having 1 threaded extensions and means for com- I pressing the legs of the'clamp, said exten' tions securing the clampsv to the drums, and

means for rotating the'drums;

In testimony whereof I aiiix' my signature in presence. of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

H. S. RUGKER, J. O. BURKS.

Washington,

JOSEPH s. RIcnEso v 

